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Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: CastroMon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
"Birley's Sandwiches is a great place to go for lunch. Not only do they have great food, its situated on the Embarcadero side so you can…" read more »
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This place is AMAZING! They do NOT sell any old sandwiches. These people sell Sammiches!
I wanted to know what all the hullaballoo was about, after hearing others rave about this place. So I made it my mission to seek it out and try it for myself. Found the place, which had the most mouth watering aroma inside. Surprised by the line at 3:00 in the afternoon, but was reassured that if people are lining up at this hour, then it truly must be good.
Ended up getting the Hot Pastrami on sourdough. Heaven on two slices of bread. No other way to describe it. Even came with a free almond cookie! Did I mention that the place is owned and managed by the sweetest ladies on Market?
You CANNOT call yourself an SF Foodie until you've tried this place.
2/2010 Another update - just got a note from some great person (!) that says that is May is back as of February 2nd! Heading over (literally) right now to get a sandwich.
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1/2010 Update to review - I'm *eagerly* awaiting the reopening of the market and can't wait to have one of their pastrami sandwiches. Not sure when it will be!
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12/2009 Absolutely wonderful staff and pricing. Fantastic sandwiches. When you order a half sandwich you get an entire sandwich, just half the meat.
Closed for the holidays but will re-open January 1st 2010 (I bought TWO sandwiches on their last day open last week)!
I get sad when I walk up to the door only to see a sign, "We'll be closed for *insert ridiculous amount of time that you'll suffer without our sandwiches* See you soon!"
You know this place is good when they can close for months and the first day they re-open, the line is ridiculously long. Yes, we ALL anticipate the re-introduction to the those yummy, rice-cooker pastrami sandwiches.
I love this place not only for the pastrami sandwiches but the fact they know me and the bf's order without us saying anything more than a "Hi" -- chicken salad on sourdough, extra large pickle on the side & pastrami on sourdough, no pickles-- and label the sandwiches as "His" and "Hers."
uh....HOW CUTE IS THAT?!?!
Judy & May are back...with the addition of Quincy....today I had the chicken salad, tomorrow the PASTRAMI.
Welcome back we missed you.
Aloha
Aloha Judy and May,
Happy New Year...we miss your smiles and ono sandwich's. This is the best…
Read more »
Yeh, yeh, yeh. it's got this old "soup nazi"/seinfeld-esque reputation about a feisty lil asian lady who demands your sandwich order in a very specific order: bread, meat, dressings... blah blah. They are also known for having the best Hot Pastrami sandwiches in sf. Naw, not really. It was gross to me. I can make my own sandwich for that price. Disappointed more than once.
ON VACATION -- AGAIN -- UNTIL AT LEAST MID-JANUARY 2010 !!!
Clearly, we had better appreciate M & L Market whilst we have the chance. After being open for all of four months, Judy needs another break from early November 2009 to at least mid January 2010.
Watch this space...
After being closed since Thanksgiving 2007, M&L Market re-opened today (7/6/09), and I was there.… Read more »
I have messed up a few times at mays, big deal, you get it after a while, and it does make the line go smoother.
I'm not a pastrami fan, but people seem to love it there.
The egg and tuna is my favorite, they pile it high, and its not to anything.
Its just perfect.
My girlfriend says the pastrami is one of the best she has ever had.
There is an art to making a good sandwich.
Some think they can do it well, some people think they can do many things well, but I never see a line at their door.
Another one of those restaurants where the rating is slightly inflated by extremely warm friendly customer service. The sandwiches are very good, but certainly not among the top in SF.
But people like sweet old Chinese ladies giving them a free cookie with their sandwich....
the hot pastrami sandwich here its crazy good. they don't cut the fat off the pastrami, every piece looks like bacon. it really changes how it tastes compared with other places that cut the fat off.
Does anyone know when M&L Market is opening back up?
Yelpers didn't fail on this one. I never imagined I would fall in love with a Hot Pastrami sando.
Pay attention, though, and practice your order in your head before it's your turn (bread first). If you have a bad service experience, it's your own fault.
May's has the best sandwiches ever and I have lived and traveled to many places. The hot pastrami is fantastic, piping hot and piled high on top of fresh crusty bread. Top that with all the finest condiments and you've got yourself quite a tasty sandwich. Just be careful on how you order, otherwise you're in for a raised eyebrow or two.
I had the greatest roast beef on rye sandwich. I ordered a full sandwich, which really should be named "two sandwiches in one"
I ate half for lunch, and the other half for dinner.
Mind you, I can eat like a starving lion...and then order dessert. I waited a really long time for my sandwich, but it was noontime.
The roast beef was super yummy, tons of condiments and veggies, AND the lady that rung me up was so cute, she gave me the almond cookie,and said "You eat this for dessert, ok?" Not to mention, I loved all the old school photos on the wall and the fact that I spent most of my time in line deciding what soda to choose from, only to move up in line, and see 10 more choices in the coolers.
I am DEFINATELY going to come back.
I was so disappointed when this place closed. the sandwiches are great. its run by a family that's been serving the neighbor hood for at least 15 years. I am not often at lunch time at church and market and was so disappointed when I went last year to find the place closed.
they reopened and I am so Happy.. May is running the register and no longer making sandwiches. going here one feels part of a community and extended family. love it
F@CK YEAH!!!!! OPEN AGAIN. May doesn't make the sandwiches anymore but get your order straight man and order like you used to or she's gonna give you the stank eye from the register. I had been coming hear since 95 till they closed for awhile but now they're back and so am I. Me and sammiches have had a long storied love affair. Roxie Food Center and Judy May's have been my sammich mistresses for years .I came to and fro between them for over a decade like a man torn between two women, then when Judy May's closed I figured fate had made my choice for me and turned me monogamous . Then as luck would have it, J&M retruned to me now I'm the sammich swinger I once was. Only this time I hope she never leaves me again.
Forever Hopelessly Yours,
Santiago "the sammich swinger" Godoy
Glad they re-opened this! Their sandwiches are one of the best I've tried! I would definitely go here again.
Let me repeat what so many other yelpers have claimed - this is one of the best, if not the best, sandwich in San Francisco. Judy and May most definitely earn their sparkling reputation.
I could not believe the quality and size of my sandwich. The menu lists two sizes - half and full. My sister went with a full, which meant two slices of bread each stacked high with your choice of meat, veggies and condiments. I went half, expecting one slice of bread cut in half. Nope. I literally got a full sandwich too, it just wasn't piled as high. But still higher than most full-sized sandwiches elsewhere. It was one of the most delicious steals of all time (less than $4).
Intangible bonus points for May being one of the cutest elderly asian ladies ever, especially for calling me young man and tossing a free cookie into my bag. This place is an absolute gem.
This past Christmas I received from "Santa" a gift card to a swanky sandwich shop. Some Santa. I redeemed my certificate for something that was nice, pleasant; though hardly could I have called it a sandwich. The friend was trying to lift my spirits since my favorite sandwich shop - M & L - closed. I guess there really is no Santa.
Today I skipped lunch and ended up bailing from work early. Finding myself starved and wanting something REALLY good and filling I started to look around in my old 'hood. Some were too expensive, others didn't seem to agree with my mood or my appetite. On a whim I turned the corner to stare longingly into the windows of my long lost favorite sandwich shop, M & L Market. Known affectionately to many as Mays Sandwich shop......... SURPRISE! There were May and Judy hard at work. I walked in, tentative but in wondrous awe.
Judy asked what I would like: My inner voices screamed "ONE OF EVERY SANDWICH NOW PLEASE!!" but my exterior individual calmly said: "On light rye I'd like the Pastrami sandwich with Jack Cheese and everything. To Go." The old saying that you never forget how to ride a bike is particularly true in this instance, considering the specifics of ordering a sandwich here which all the regulars know as part of the ritual. I stepped over to May as she rang my sandwich up on that familiar old cash register. You know the kind: push down the keys and numbers pop up as an inner bell chimes. Old school. But familiar. May took my bill and made change. Opened a paper sack and stuffed my sammy inside and followed up with a few napkins surrounding an almond cookie. OMG - ITS BACK!
What I got was a mouthwatering, flavorful, Appetite pleasing, value packed meal between two pieces of bread.....and it was FREAKING good!!
They were closed for a year and half, but they are back in form.
Yes, Roger, there really is a Santa Claus!
Nothing like one of their sandwiches. I've wanted to change up the ordering process, just to see… Read more »
Has anybody heard??? M & L Market is re-opening soon? Holy crap!!!
My friend just told me that they will reopen in June after an almost 2 year hiatus. I've been searching for a comparable sandwich but I have yet to find anything close to the genius behind this establishment. If I can make it till then, I'll order 17 pastrami sandwiches with the correct ordering structure. Let me refresh your memory.
1) bread first
2) then type of sandwich
3) then what condiments you would like on it
4) then cheese
5) then for here or to go.
Freaking awesome!!! Not only is every sandwich on the menu cheap and enormous but the most delicious sandwich I've ever had. If this place doesn't open and this is all a rumor, I'm gonna crack some heads. Lets get a move on already!!!
My coworkers rave about this place so decided to check it out on a slow friday workday. We got there early to avoid the long lines and boy were we lucky. Right after we sat down, the line started going out the door. Everyone's reviews about how they get mad if you don't order are heavily exaggerated. I thought both ladies were very nice. I had no idea they were chinese. i was expecting russian or some european descent.
the Hot pastrami was kept in two crockpots. I had it on sourdough, with everything on it. she topped on layers and layers and then a few more layers of the pastrami and finally put the other bread on. They really do take care of you there. I wish they had an option of toasted but beggars can't be choosers. The meat was realyl goood but it got soggy and then it was just too much meat for one sandwich. Prices i heard have gone up over the years and you can get away with a full sandiwch, chips and soda for about $8 something.
they do include a almond cookie and fortune cookie with your meal. Seats are limited but go early if you don't plan to wait. they usualyl only have one person making sandwiches and one person collecting the cash.
UPDATE: changing it to 4 stars. YOU MUST GET IT ON THE SOURDOUGH ROLL (NOT SLICED). IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
I find it very interesting that few sammy-only places exist in a City that prides itself on its culinary delights. with that said, a sammy is not some difficult culinary feat. i was brought here by friends who once lived here in SF and told me that you MUST, i repeat, MUST get your order correct to avoid some evil stare from the grandmother, daughter, granddaughter team that fixes the sammy's. the stare is the only reason why this place does not get the fifth-star. sorry, not everyone eats here on the daily and knows the "rules" of the "non-listed rules". quick and efficient YES. delicious YES. this is a fine place to grab a basic sammy that are delicious and cheap.
How did I miss this place? Having lived near here multiple times over the last 15 years, I have no excuses.
Just stopped in after getting a whiff of the hot pastrami and seeing the smiling faces of the ladies behind the counter.
I ordered the Jack special. An absolutely huge double decker. It was $7 and easily over 2 pounds. I ate every bite of it! I posted a photo.
Hours: 11:30 to 4pm. Tip: Order the bread first. :p
when meeting a friend for lunch, i looked to fellow yelpers' advice for a decent sandwich place near(ish) castro/mission which lead me to m&l market.
i now am in love with this place. this is the type of joint you want to support. lots of menu options, decently priced, and super friendly workers. the wait is a bit longer than usual but definitely worth it.
i love the old pictures on the wall and the fact that they actually use an old, manual cash register. i can only imagine how difficult that must be.
plus a free cookie!
i only wish i had known about m&l when i worked nearer.
I love May's Sandwiches! They were closed for a long time but are now open. Judy and May are the best and so are their sandwiches.
They make the best pastrami sandwich in town. The roast beef is spectacular too.. One day I was bored and asked Judy to surprise me and she made me a pastrami/egg salad sandwich which was out of this world.
The lines can be long, but it is well worth the wait. May's sandwiches are very reasonable and a San Francisco institution!
Like Jerome, I am in the neighborhood but haven't been here as long as him. So, I've wandered by this place many times wondering why it wasn't open. I finally saw that it was open a few weeks ago and showed up at 11:20 or so (it's open from 11:30 - 4:00 on weekdays). There were already 3 or 4 people waiting and I got the full story on Judy & May (wonderful people), how to order (bread first, then meat, then the condiments you want), and the best sandwiches (many said pastrami, but there was definite support for the chicken salad).
I've had pastrami on rye, rare roast beef on sourdough, and chicken salad on dutch crunch. Each had a little something to make it special.
The pastrami was overflowing on the sandwich (and Judy puts the extra meat that falls off in the bag when she wraps your sandwich, so you can munch on the delicious pastrami goodness) and the fixings were perfect. The roast beef was tender and plentiful (according to Judy it was still mooing) and was complemented well with the touch of horseradish. The chicken salad was made with what looked and tasted like dark meat, which in my opinion has much more flavor. AND, there was the spice which kind of creeps up on you. I would recommend any of those and based on that would say to get whatever strikes your fancy. I would be shocked if these two ladies could do anything wrong in the sandwich-making arena.
What really puts this place into the 5 star arena is the experience of feeling like you're in someone's home kitchen. The pastrami is warmed in a crock pot, the roast beef is sliced on and ready to go on plates, Judy and May are bantering with each other and the customers all wait patiently in a long line for a bit of sandwichy goodness.
The only downsides are that long line (about 20-30 minute wait at times... but entirely worth it) and the fact that after you finish the sandwich (and you will finish it, regardless of your intentions), all you want to do is take a nap.
Last but not least, I want to say that I would choose M & L Market over Ike's Place any day of the week. Bear in mind that I like Ike's... I like it a lot. It's just that Ike's has sandwiches like your little brother would make (not that I'm knocking putting mozzarella sticks in a meatball sub), whereas May's has sandwiches like your mom or grandma would make.
Awesome place to go for HUGE sandwich portions and tasty! You can't go wrong with the pastrami or roastbeef. Imagine biting into a warm juicy smother of meat and lavished with just the right crunchy sides and topped with soft bread of choice. Everything they make is so fresh and I just love their personality, especially May's. She is adorable as long as you get on her good side. Its worth the price and more!
What can I say about May's??? Simply the best and tastiest deli I've been to! Never a disappointment. I've been going here for many years, my cousin and her family have gone here since the 70s (they grew up just around the corner from May's). Sure, the lines can be ridiculously long at times, but it's well worth the wait. The sandwiches are made with fresh ingredients, and her pastrami sandwiches are amazing. ALWAYS CHOOSE YOUR BREAD FIRST! I haven't been here for awhile though, but the last I remembered was that they had been closed for a few months. They often go on vacations, especially during the holidays. I'm hoping that all is well with their family, and I also hope they open up soon if they are still closed!
PROS: sandwiches that don't skimp on the meat, the right amount of mayo, DELICIOUS PASTRAMI! family-owned business, May and her almond cookies, much much healthier alternative to quizno's or subway, very inexpensive
CONS: long wait, hard to find street parking
I had the chicken salad on a dutch crunch. Boy, it hits all kinds of spots. Loved the crunch, maybe I haven't had a crunch for so long that it tasted so good. A whole sandwich turns into two separate lunches. I love sprouts, so when I saw that it made my day. The chicken salad had a tiny spicy, "ting" to it, how yummy and not boring. I do feel like being at home and being served by mom and grandmother. I loved the almond cookie "bonus." Always can use a little sweet pick-me-up. I couldn't even get the cookie back to my desk, because I ate it right when I left the shop. Expect a line, but it gives you time to figure out what to get. Decisions, decisions!
I have been eating @ M & L for years. I eat here at least 3 times a week for lunch. I love it because I can order a sandwich, chips and a drink for exactly $4.65. In times like this, you gotta love the price. Judy (the chef) and May (the cashier) are so nice. It is like having lunch with your family. I love the hot pastrami and the egg with tuna. But my favorite is the chicken salad. No where in the world are you gonna find a chicken salad so tasty! And I'll tell you, I try chicken salad sandwiches just to compare them to Judy's. No comparison yet. I highly recommend it. There is always a line, but have patience, it is well worth it.
I just finished eating my Pastrami Sandwich and I can tell you that it was the best! The restaurant is located at a very convenient location near Safeway!
The best hot pastrami sandwich ever. It is worth the bus ride/walk from downtown SF. I would walk a thousand miles to eat here again and again. This is a must try place is SF.
Forget Ike's this place does sandwiches like no other.
I've been thrice over the past several weeks and have always left happy and full.
The signature sandwich is the pastrami which is steamed and peppered to perfection. A half is enough to satisfy most appetites, the full will push you over the teetering brink of sandwich heaven.
Next time around, a friend and I split a corned beef and a chicken salad (the proprietor's favorite). She walked away a new believer.
Just today, i tried a half roast beef. Which is actually a misnomer because it comes on a full slice of bread, but with just half the meat of the full! Best thing about the roast beef is you get your choice of regular, medium rare or super rare! love it! I grabbed a half egg salad to go [looks like a full] ... am saving that for later.
I can't believe how much value you get for their sandwiches. A half sandwich goes for anywhere from 2.50 to 3.50 and it's actually a full.
What else do I like?
The fixins are stacked with fresh crispy goodness, crisp lettuce, slivered white sweet onions, pickles, sprouts,,, if you ask for avocado watch out cuz you'll get a whole one in there!
I also love the ladies that work there. Bless these ladies and their generous small business souls. i hear they've been at this for over 20 years. Here's to another 20!
I drove by here last week (used to work nearby) because I was craving for the best pastrami sandwich EVER, but saw they were closed....so I'm glad to read they may reopen in June or have relocated...whatever, I will wait or search for this elusive place! I've lived in the Peninsula for many years (safe but boring!) and will drive to SF just to get a pastrami sandwich (okay, my parents live in SF too, but in a different neighborhood). I am still searching a comparable pastrami sandwich.....and hope this place reopens soon.
To all you fans of M&L, I just confirmed M&L has reopened!!!! YEAH!!!
The BEST sandwich place ever!!! They have killer pastrami sandwiches!!! Try the chicken salad… Read more »
I love May's too, but I've also been wondering where they have been.
They've been closed for about 9 months now. The last time I tried to go, I called first and Judy (May's daughter) answered the phone (at least I tink I recognized her voice). She said "we hope to be back in July."
It's now November and the sign in the window says "All is well, See you Soon." (I think).
In any case, the Pastrami sandwiches are really excellent.
Went here today and it was open I could not believe my eyes! May and Judy were botht there too, And the pastrami was the best as usual. Best part no long line I dont think many people know there open again because every few minutes a new person would walk in and so "oh my god your open!"
I'm glad there back, If your looking for a great sandwich this is the place especially if you like pastrami!
May is an angry god and you will be smited if you order your sandwich in the wrong order. Bread first and then please only one ingredient at a time. And then your sandwich will be big, plentiful and full of love.
Confession: I used to walk by here a lot when I lived around the corner and I used to stop and watch May watch her little TV in the back of the cafe at night. Strangely calming.
I used to work around the corner from May's. I learned about it from an SF native. The portions are gigantic for the money and the ingredients are generally fresh. May is SF's equivalent to the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. You don't want to know what happens if you don't order your bread first. Don't test this woman. She WILL open up a SERIOUS CAN o' WHOOPASS on you!!!
(I secretly don't like their almond cookies but I've been afraid to tell May for years so I just accept them and give them to homeless people.)
To those of us in the neighborhood, we know the M & L Market simply as May's. May and her pastrami sandwiches are a "fixture" in the Castro...and there's a reason for that. BEST PASTRAMI EVER. My partner has been eating at May's for decades, but I only recently discovered and fell in love with the food--and then sadly, the place closed for 18 months. We live just around the corner on Dolores street, so would walk by daily looking for signs of life...and we REJOICED when we saw the signs announcing May's would reopen. You better believe I had lunch there on the first week. Here's my order... Dutch Crunch, Pastrami, Tomatoes, Onions, Mayo, Swiss Cheese...
If you've read the other reviews, you know there is a system for ordering. "Bread first, etc. etc." One of my friends likened May to the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. I have been reprimanded for ordering incorrectly, but at the end of the day, I don't mind... It's all about the amazing food.... DELIGHTFUL in every way!!!
They're Ba-ack!!! Now I can die a happy person! The best sandwiches in the world. . . The triple egg with tuna is my standard, but remember it's still "Bread First"! Thank you Judy and May!
Best pastrami sandwich I've ever had (my 1st sandwich ever to have green onions sprinkled on it, amazing..). This was well worth the journey from 1st and market via bus rail walk. This is a place you MUST try.
Stimulate your appetite and…
Neighborhood: Financial District
Valid till Feb 14th
San Francisco, CA
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Coffee & Tea
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Category: Delis
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Category: Grocery
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